Ever feel your heart skip a beat when someone “friendly” nears you in a tourist crowd? That’s your gut whispering: be alert. Europe is gorgeous, magical, full of history, but it’s also a playground for clever pickpockets. Knowing travel scams in Europe isn’t paranoia; it’s survival. So, pour your coffee, settle in, here’s what to watch out for when you secure those cheap flights to London.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Beware of These Cities!
- The Bracelet / “Free Gift” Scam
- Fake Petitions/Donation Clipboard Scams
- Taxi Overcharging & Fake Meters
- Gold Ring/Jewellery Trick
- Overcharging Restaurants/Sneaky Add-ons
- Train Station/Transit Scams
- Police Official Scams
- The Tyre Puncture Scam
- Exchange Booths
- Passing Counterfeit Bills
- False Rental Listings
- Summary:
- FAQs: Travel Scams of Europe
- Akbar Travels Services
Beware of These Cities!
Image credit: Shutterstock/givaga
Old castles, narrow alleys, and crowded plazas; those are atmospheric, not accident zones. Whenever there’s beauty plus tourists, there’s opportunity. Places like Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the Netherlands often show up in lists of the most scammed countries in Europe. So, if you’re applying for your Schengen Visa, you must be wary of these travel scams in Europe.
Scammers know tourists are dreamy-eyed, distracted by cathedrals, and sometimes do not check their back pockets. Many common tourist scams reuse the same tricks of blending into the local bustle, distracting, then vanishing. Once a city sees something work, it spreads fast. How to avoid travel scams? Know all about the common tourist scams!
The Bracelet / “Free Gift” Scam
Image credit: Pixabay/Myriams-Fotos
One of the most widespread scams. Someone approaches offering a “free” bracelet, flower, string, or small trinket. Once tangled on your wrist (or after you accept), they demand money. Sometimes guilt or pressure is used (“but you looked so nice accepting it!”).
Where it’s common: Paris (especially Montmartre & near Sacré-Coeur), Rome and Milan in Italy; Barcelona for places like La Rambla & Park Güell.
Fake Petitions/Donation Clipboard Scams
Image credit: Unsplash/Christian Dubovan
Someone with a clipboard asks you to sign a petition for a “good cause,” disability, homelessness, children, etc. After you sign, they pressure you for a donation. While you’re distracted, theft or pickpocketing can happen. This is one of the most unsuspecting travel scams.
Cities where this is frequent: Paris (tourist zones near the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre), Vienna (Heldenplatz, Hofburg), Rome, Barcelona, Berlin, also show up often in guides warning about this scam.
Taxi Overcharging & Fake Meters
Image credit: Unsplash/Kai Pilger
This is one of the most popular travel scams. Drivers may claim the taxi meter is broken, take indirect routes, refuse credit cards to force cash payment, or use fake “airport dispatchers” to steer tourists to overpriced taxis.
Typical cities: Prague, especially from the airport to the city centre. Budapest has repeated reports at night and from bars/clubs, and Paris (Charles de Gaulle & routes into the city).
Discover: Top Nine Scams in Southeast Asia.
Gold Ring/Jewellery Trick
Stranger “finds” a ring or jewellery, offers it (or says it might be yours), then convinces you it’s valuable, and wants money. Often fake or of a super low value.
Where seen: Paris, Barcelona, and Rome.
Overcharging Restaurants/Sneaky Add-ons
Image credit: Unsplash/Jay Wennington
After you order food and drinks, you’ll maybe see free items listed like bread, dips. Then the bill has surprise “service charges” or items you didn’t order. Sometimes, the menu may list one price, but after the meal, you find extras or an inflated tax. This is a common family travel scams.
Cities to watch: Budapest is often cited for sneaky surcharges in tourist areas when you don’t pay attention to menus or bill details.
Train Station/Transit Scams
Image credit: Pexels/Sascha Hormel
Scammers target people at busy train stations: pretending to help with tickets, “helping” you with luggage, or giving unsolicited assistance. Sometimes, station lockers or ticket machines have hidden fees or scams.
Where: Milan (Milano Centrale) has bracelet gang and aggressive bracelet scams in station areas; other big train hubs in Rome, Barcelona, also have reports of fake guides around stations or offering “help” then charging for it
Police Official Scams
Image credit: Pixabay/Jacques Tiberi
A police officer visits your hotel room at night to just “look if anything suspicious is going on.” Never let them inside to snoop around, unless they have a license, because you’re falling prey to one of the biggest travel scam in Europe. Some tourist police might also stop you on the street to check your wallet for counterfeit money. We bet you’ll find notes missing at the end of it.
Where: Most common in the Czech Republic.
Need to avoid the scams? Secure all-inclusive Europe tour packages because no one can bother you with a professional guide by your side.
The Tyre Puncture Scam
Image credit: Unsplash/Waldemar Brandt
This one’s straight out of a con artist playbook, and is especially common along highways and gas stations near big cities. You park, maybe to grab coffee, and someone “helps” point out a flat tyre. Turns out, they caused it themselves moments before. While you’re checking the damage, another person quietly helps themselves to your luggage or bag.
Cities where it happens most: Madrid (especially near rental car depots), Rome, and Barcelona, and highways leading to airports. Rental cars with sticker logos are prime targets, as nothing screams “tourist” louder.
Exchange Booths
Image credit: Unsplash/Frederick Warren
Classic trap, especially in airports and around busy squares. Some exchange booths flash “No Commission!” signs, but the exchange rate inside is atrocious. Others might hand over fewer bills than you paid for, a surprisingly common sleight-of-hand move.
Cities where it’s rampant: Prague’s Old Town and Wenceslas Square are infamous. Budapest and Bucharest are close seconds
Explore: The European Destination Emerged as the Most Stressful City in the World in 2025
Passing Counterfeit Bills
This one’s sneaky because it works both ways, as you can get scammed while paying or while receiving change. It often starts with a taxi driver, street vendor, or small café worker claiming your note is fake and swapping it out with a counterfeit one. You walk away none the wiser, lighter by a few euros.
Hotspots: Rome (street markets), Athens (taxis), and Bucharest (bars and nightclubs)
False Rental Listings
Image credit: Unsplash/Tierra Mallorca
A modern travel nightmare – fake listings on popular platforms or local rental sites, complete with stolen photos, low rates, and urgent “book now” messages. Tourists often send deposits before arrival, only to find the property doesn’t exist or belongs to someone else. This is also among the most popular global travel scams list.
Cities affected most: Paris, Florence, and Lisbon have all seen waves of rental fraud, especially during the summer and Christmas time.
Instead, book the best hotels in London online to avoid losing your money to tourist scams in Europe. So, now that you’re 100% unscammable, when will you be visiting?
Summary:
Europe is stunning, but it comes with its share of travel scams in Europe, from bracelet tricks and overcharging taxis to fake petitions and ATM skimmers. This guide covers common tourist scams, unsuspecting travel scams, and global schemes that appear in European cities. Learn how to avoid these pitfalls with practical tips against travel scams, spot hotspot areas, and enjoy your trip safely while experiencing history, culture, and cuisine without falling prey to clever cheaters.
FAQs: Travel Scams of Europe
What are the common travel scams in Europe?
From fake taxi fares and “helpful” pickpockets to shady exchange booths and tyre puncture tricks, Europe’s full of smooth talkers who turn charm into a hustle. Some even pull fake petition or friendship bracelet scams near tourist spots. Basically, if it feels too friendly or too official too fast. It’s probably not.
What are the top three scams?
The big ones? Pickpocketing in crowded metros, overpriced taxis at airports, and fake rental listings online. These three trap the most travellers every single summer; quiet, quick, and painfully believable.
Is pickpocketing common in Europe?
Yep, especially in hotspots like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Prague. It’s an art form there, backpacks unzipped in seconds, jackets brushed “accidentally,” wallets gone before dessert. Keep your bag zipped and your hands free, always.
How to not get scammed as a tourist?
Stay alert, not paranoid. Learn a few local scams before landing, use licensed taxis or apps, double-check prices, and never hand your bag to a “helpful stranger.” Confidence is your best defence.
How to not get scammed as a tourist?
Trust instincts over politeness. If someone’s rushing you to pay, sign, or “just help for a minute,” take a step back. The smartest travellers aren’t suspicious, just calmly curious before they say yes.
Also Read:
- Top European Destinations to Visit in Spring 2025.
- The Top 10 Journey Routes to Take in Europe
- The Charm of Western Europe & Why It Should be on Your Bucket List
Akbar Travels Services
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